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M
Here's the thing- let's say that IS the reason all of these people are abandoning ship and disappearing out of the OP's life, simply because he's a Christian. Does that verse include fellow Christians? If it does, then hurray, you've made your point. If it doesn't, then the OP, as a Christian, should probably be trying to figure out why he hasn't got any Christian friends.
U
Also, as i said earlier, if the reason is simply because he's a Christian, then why does this not happen to ALL Christians? You don't just get to take scripture and apply it when it supports you and ignore it when it doesn't. Fact is you are trying to force the application of a scripture to support your ideas, when, in reality, you don't know the full story about this person. So you can't apply that scripture truthfully. Just more evidence of people hyperspiritualizing.
Makes me think of the line 'too heavenly minded to be any earthly good'.
Makes me think of the line 'too heavenly minded to be any earthly good'.
I am sorry that you had to go through such difficult situations. It is not easy to make a friend because it takes a lot of effort (both time and emotions). After all that struggle, it is not nice to lose him/her all of a sudden without a reason. I understand that it is more complicated because of your personality (INTJ). I have some words of advice for you from my experience.
Before I give you some advice, I agree with what MissCris said. Blaming the reason for your friends leaving on the fact that you are a Christian is not reasonable. I quote her response because she has clearly explained why you cannot assume that.
Personally, I am a Christian myself. But I have managed to make good friends and to keep some of them with me for many years. Some of my friends are not Christians but they have no reservations about being friends with one.
Here are some reasons why you could be losing friends -
1. Are you reluctant to get personal with your friends? Friendships won't last long if only one person is doing all the sharing. Always remember that it takes two hands to clap. How much did your close 'former' friends know about you? I am not asking you to be an 'open book' to everybody. But there must be one person who should know enough about you to guide you and support you. And that must be on an equal level - you must know as much about him/her as he/she knows about you.
2. Have your friends been the genuine sort of people who found you interesting? Or were they people who wanted some benefits and then left after that? For example, a meritorious student will always have some friends who exploit him for his intelligence.
3. How was the wavelength between you and each friend you lost? Did it match or were there glaring red flags which you ignored? A lot of 'unspoken' friction can be caused between opposing wavelengths. For example, if you are an introvert who likes to spend his time only with books and your friend is an extrovert who finds books boring but loves to go outdoors, meet people and party a lot.
4. Some Christians tend to push their friends to convert. It is a good idea to share the gospel with your friends. But there is a thin line between feeding a person some food and cramming the food into his mouth. Nobody likes to hasted into an action, especially if it concerns their morals/philosophy. If you tend to be pushy, then you have to choose between 'toning down' your evangelism or continuing the same (in which case you may continue to lose friends).
Yes I think it does include a lot of Christians who haven't mastered the actions of kindness, honesty or courtesy.
Its most likely 'unintentional', but nevertheless its a little disrespectful to leave someone flat without them doing something worthy of it. The OP is saying he is not doing anything worthy of it. So you are questioning his honesty and awareness of the matter. So even you are rejecting him without cause because you don't believe him. How can you get him to question his behavior if he is being honest about it? Why aren't you questioning the behavior of the others at all?
Did you hear the original poster's words. Its mysterious. These people aren't giving him the courtesy of why. Is there scripture that helps someone understand why people would abandon him without just cause?
Why don't we try a little exercise. Why can't any of us be friends with the OP? See, that's not true. Some of us have been friendly towards him, and some of us have questioned his behavior already because you believe that's the only factor possible. And its a factor of mans social realm and the reasons and rules man puts on it. So those of you questioning his behavior aren't looking to Gods word first, you are looking to social reasons that are made by man.
Its most likely 'unintentional', but nevertheless its a little disrespectful to leave someone flat without them doing something worthy of it. The OP is saying he is not doing anything worthy of it. So you are questioning his honesty and awareness of the matter. So even you are rejecting him without cause because you don't believe him. How can you get him to question his behavior if he is being honest about it? Why aren't you questioning the behavior of the others at all?
Did you hear the original poster's words. Its mysterious. These people aren't giving him the courtesy of why. Is there scripture that helps someone understand why people would abandon him without just cause?
Why don't we try a little exercise. Why can't any of us be friends with the OP? See, that's not true. Some of us have been friendly towards him, and some of us have questioned his behavior already because you believe that's the only factor possible. And its a factor of mans social realm and the reasons and rules man puts on it. So those of you questioning his behavior aren't looking to Gods word first, you are looking to social reasons that are made by man.